Download Arabs in the Bible - 30 Days of Prayer for the Muslim World

Arabs in the Bible
God really loves Arabs
M
Prayer for the Peoples
Chad
The Karanga people
The Karanga are a people group related
to the larger Bantu people. In Chad, they number
around 117,000. They speak their own language
and live in a small area outside the city of Abeche
in South Central Chad. A major source of income for
the Karanga is the farming of crops, ranging from
groundnuts and sesame to grains and wheat. Much
of their planting is based on the amount of rainfall,
so drought is always a serious threat to their livelihood. In recent years, the people here have also seen
some damage to their crops from grain-eating birds
who steal much of their harvest.
Little is known about the Karanga. Prayer is
needed to see them come to a knowledge of the One
True God made manifest in Christ.
uslims are found in literally hundreds of different ethnic groups around the world. Possibly three quarters
of the world’s Muslims are not from an Arabic background;
however, Mohammed’s Arab lifestyle and cultural background have profoundly influenced Islam. Knowing that
Islam has such deep roots in Arabia it would be good for
all Christians to understand that God really loves Arabs. The
Bible is a major source of Arab genealogies. We know that
there are at least three types of Middle-Eastern Arabs: the
Joktanites, the Ishmaelites and the Keturahites.
The Descendants of Joktan
Many Arabs see themselves as descendants of Joktan (Gen
10:25). The Arabs call him “Kahtan.” One of the very famous
tribes descending from Joktan was Sheba whose descendants
founded the kingdom of the Sabeans in Yemen and Africa.
The Arabs call the famous queen of Sheba by the name
“Bilquis.” Her visit to Jerusalem during King Solomon’s
reign is an example of how God’s people had an influence
on Arabia even in Old Testament times. Solomon writes one
of the so called “Messianic Psalms” (Ps. 72) partly with
Sheba in mind (see verses 10 and 15). Jesus speaks very positively concerning the Queen of Sheba (Mt. 12:42). It would
appear that at least some of the Semitic tribes worshipped
the God of Shem even if they did not know him fully.
The Descendants of Ishmael
God made promises to Abraham concerning Ishmael
that he would bless him exceedingly (Gen. 17:18-27). God’s
covenant to bless all the nations did not come through Ishmael but rather through Isaac. However, God did not forget
Ishmael. His descendants are included in God’s promise to
bless all the nations (all ethnic groups around the world)
through the seed of Abraham (See Gen. 12:1-3; 18:18; 22:18;
24:4; and 28:14). This promised blessing was eventually fulfilled in Jesus.
It is remarkable that Ishmael’s name is a revelation concerning God’s person and character. His name means “God
hears.” God clearly heard the distress of Hagar when she
called out for help in the desert (Gen. 16:1-16). It was God
who designated the name. The name Ishmael is an everlasting testimony of God’s concern for the weak, the afflicted
and those who are unjustly treated.
The descendants of Ishmael seem to have settled predominately in northern Arabia. One of Ishmael’s twelve
sons named Nabajoth (Nebaioth) fathered (continued)
13
THE FIVE PILLARS OF ISLAM
the tribe which eventually became the head of the Nabatean
kingdom. The kingdom’s famous capital, Petra, is in present
day Jordan. Muslims believe that Mohammed was descended
from Nabajoth.
The Descendants of Abraham through Keturah
After Sarah’s death Abraham took another wife (or concubine) named Keturah (Gen 25:1-3). Abraham had six other
sons through Keturah after the birth of Isaac (Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak and Shuah). All of Keturah’s
sons eventually became the heads of Arab tribes. Later Moses
married Zipporah the daughter of Jethro the priest of Midian
(Ex 2:16-22). Jethro recognized the true God and even gave
Moses good advice which apparently pleased the Lord (Exodus 18). Certainly the Midianites had some revelation of God
through their father Abraham. The Midianites also attacked
Israel during the time of Gideon.
The Arabs were involved in gross idolatry for many centuries. In a very similar way the Jews were also involved in
idolatry, and God gave them scriptures and prophets to bring
them back to repentance. Mohammed (AD 570 - 632) eventually sought to turn the Arabs from their idolatry to worship
14
the God of Abraham, Moses and Jesus, but his understanding
of God’s plan and provision in Christ was distorted.
Hope of Salvation for Arabs
Millions of Arabs around the world already identify themselves with the Messiah. Many are in the ancient churches
of the Middle East in Lebanon, Egypt and Iraq. Isaiah the
prophet speaks of a time when the glory of the Lord will be
manifested among the Arabs (Isaiah 60:1-7).
We also find encouragement to believe God for the salvation of a multitude of Arabs from the story of Pentecost. On
the day of Pentecost some of those who were filled with the
Spirit spoke of the mighty deeds of God in Arabic (see Acts
2:11). The praises of God were proclaimed in Arabic before
they were ever proclaimed in English, French, German or
Spanish! Arabs can also be blessed with Abraham through
Christ.
Recommended reading: “Arabs and jews on Biblical Perpective” (order
from www.WorldChristian.com bookstore)
The Islamic religion is lived out according
to five main “pillars” which are obligatory
religious practices for all adult Muslims:
1. Reciting the Creed (shahada) -“There
is no God but Allah and Mohammed is his
prophet”.
2. Prayer (salat) - Five times each day.
3. Almsgiving (zakat) - Both obligatory
and voluntary giving to the poor.
4. Fasting (saum) - Especially during the
“holy” month of Ramadan.
5. Pilgrimage (hajj) - At least once in a
lifetime to Mecca, known as the Hajj.